condition factor, biological
68
of solute is expressed in grammoles per liter, one speaks of the molar or
molal concentrations, dependent on whether the amount refers to a certain
volume or weight. With marine organisms the concentration is usually
denoted as the density of the species, which refers to the number of specimens per volume, per square meter (for benthic organisms) or per square
meter of the water column (for pelagic species). The concentration is a very
important quantity because it determines the probability that the solutes or
the organisms meet each other. For chemical solutes this controls the reaction rates. With organisms the mutual interactions are, in a similar way,
highly dependent on the probability that they meet each other.
condition factor, biological factor giving weight (w) relative to length (L) or diameter of an animal. In most animals body weight (W) shows a power relationship with linear body dimensions such as body length, height or diameter
(L) : W = k Lb. The power b usually has a value between 2.5 and 3.5 for different species, and can vary within one species for different life stages (larval, juvenile, adult, etc.), particularly when the body shape changes. When b
is given a known fixed value for a species, the relative feeding or spawning
condition of individuals can be described by a condition factor K = W L -b,
the factor being relatively high in well-fed or mature individuals and low in
starve or post -spawned individuals.
conductivity of seawater the electrical conductivity of seawater results from the
ionized dissolved salts and is an accurate measure for the salinity. In fact, the
routine determination of salinity by a salinometer is done by measuring the
conductivity.
confluence -tdivergence.
connate water -tjuvenile water.
conservation careful protection and planned management of a natural resource
(ecosystem, fish stock, rare species) to prevent overexploitation, destruction
or neglect.
consortium (microbiol.) an assemblage of different species of bacteria in which
each organism benefits from the other.
constancy of seawater composition the relative abundances of major ions in seawater have a constant ratio to one another, hence to salinity (-tseawater).
There are strong indications that the major ion composition of seawater has
been constant over the past 400 million years.
68
of solute is expressed in grammoles per liter, one speaks of the molar or
molal concentrations, dependent on whether the amount refers to a certain
volume or weight. With marine organisms the concentration is usually
denoted as the density of the species, which refers to the number of specimens per volume, per square meter (for benthic organisms) or per square
meter of the water column (for pelagic species). The concentration is a very
important quantity because it determines the probability that the solutes or
the organisms meet each other. For chemical solutes this controls the reaction rates. With organisms the mutual interactions are, in a similar way,
highly dependent on the probability that they meet each other.
condition factor, biological factor giving weight (w) relative to length (L) or diameter of an animal. In most animals body weight (W) shows a power relationship with linear body dimensions such as body length, height or diameter
(L) : W = k Lb. The power b usually has a value between 2.5 and 3.5 for different species, and can vary within one species for different life stages (larval, juvenile, adult, etc.), particularly when the body shape changes. When b
is given a known fixed value for a species, the relative feeding or spawning
condition of individuals can be described by a condition factor K = W L -b,
the factor being relatively high in well-fed or mature individuals and low in
starve or post -spawned individuals.
conductivity of seawater the electrical conductivity of seawater results from the
ionized dissolved salts and is an accurate measure for the salinity. In fact, the
routine determination of salinity by a salinometer is done by measuring the
conductivity.
confluence -tdivergence.
connate water -tjuvenile water.
conservation careful protection and planned management of a natural resource
(ecosystem, fish stock, rare species) to prevent overexploitation, destruction
or neglect.
consortium (microbiol.) an assemblage of different species of bacteria in which
each organism benefits from the other.
constancy of seawater composition the relative abundances of major ions in seawater have a constant ratio to one another, hence to salinity (-tseawater).
There are strong indications that the major ion composition of seawater has
been constant over the past 400 million years.